The Storyville Museum
Photo Post
All photos taken by me at the Storyville Museum in New Orleans, April 16, 2025.
While I was getting ready to do my show in New Orleans, Vivacious Miss Audacious reached out to me to help, and told me about the new Storyville Museum. Storyville was a legally-designated district in the French Quarter where vice was, if not encouraged, not banned, lasting from 1897-1917.
Above: the ordinance that created the district. This attempt to control vice was sponsored by city alderman Sidney Story, who may not have been thrilled to find the district named after him.
I reached out and spoke with Claus Sadlier, the creator and director of the museum, and loved his approach. He’s interested in sharing knowledge and culture, putting the vice district’s rise and downfall into the context of New Orleans history at large. The exhibitions address the complicated cultural impact of Storyville and show the routes and circumstances that led sex workers to the city, and how they thrived (or didn’t) once they were there. There are maps, photos, artifacts, recreations, and detailed placards throughout, including one about the origin of the term “red-light district.” The museum has rooms dedicated to the luxurious brothels, the miserable cribs, the musical legacy, the presence of Storyville in films, and more. He told me he’s talking to more sex workers and people affected by this history to continue to adapt and authenticate the experience.
Above: Some of the rooms are animated by holograms depicting workers and customers.
Above: the E.J. Bellocq gallery, with rare prints from the original plates.
Above: I was excited to see authentic Blue Books, guidebooks to the brothels which were published for visitors to the district, as well as a digitized version to flip through. Claus gave me a newly reprinted copy from the gift shop.
Above: I loved this costume by Jenny Campbell, made out of replicas of Blue Books, which flip open strategically.
Above: the music room has recordings to listen to and an authentic player piano.
Above: a clip from Farewell to Storyville, one of the films represented in the museum.
This is just a taste of what there is to see. I loved touring this gorgeous, lively multimedia space with Claus — he is deeply informed and aware, and curious to hear suggestions and insights. The gift shop is excellent, with related history books, copies of blue books, and charming memorabilia. It’s in the French Quarter at 1010 Conti Street, a very apt location on the block that was once home to EJ Bellocq himself. If you’re in New Orleans, do pay a visit!
Have you been there? What did you like best about it? Was there anything you’d do differently?
If you had a museum, what would it be like?
This is amazing! I'm salivating at the photos - I've always been fascinated by the "quiet part out loud" aspect of Storyville, and there's zero way to document it out of the historical context of the city (and the South/US). I hope to visit sooner than later. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like great fun! I loved the Armstrong/Holiday clip! Thank you...